A Randgate mother nearly fell into a poorly covered manhole while walking her children to school a few days ago.
The manhole has since been dubbed ‘the man-eating manhole’.
Michelle Viljoen avoided a serious fall on the corner of Stegmann and Market Streets, but did not walk away uninjured. She sustained foot and back injuries after trying to break her fall.
The fall occurred on the morning of Wednesday, 26 October. The manhole Michelle nearly fell into was covered by what looked like vibracrete slabs taken from a wall. Michelle said she was walking over the slabs when one of them gave way, causing her fall.
Because of the incident, her children were unable to go to school and hours later, she was taken to hospital by her fiancé for medical treatment. Michelle said that she is not fortunate enough to have medical aid.
The couple plan to take steps against the municipality for the manhole not being properly covered, thus posing a danger to children and the elderly who might not be as fortunate to escape with only foot and back injuries.
They have since reported the matter to the Rand West City Local Municipality. According to them, the municipality said they would cover the problematic manhole.
This is not the first time Randgate manholes have come under fire. Last year the Herald reported on a manhole located near a school and old age home in Stegmann Street.
Former Herald journalist, Bianca Pindral, demonstrated during the last report that climbing out of a manhole was a feat for a healthy strong young adult, but for a child or an elderly person, climbing out while injured is nearly impossible.
In 2013, in an article titled Open manhole took everything from me, the Herald interviewed Barend van Zyl, an elderly car guard who fell into an open manhole on 19 June, 2013. In the article he claimed he had lost everything after the fall as his injuries had resulted in him not being able to continue working on the mines. He lost his job and his home, and now lives day-to-day working as a car guard.
“I was in hospital for six weeks,” he said. “First in Paardekraal and then in Leratong. I spent two weeks in traction. My leg was scraped open and I suffered a broken vertebrae in my back,” Van Zyl told the Herald.
Read more here on dangerous manholes:
Residents up in arms over open manhole
Warning: Missing manhole cover poses danger
